Sheet separator



May 6, 1942. s. K. SAYLES SHEET SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 2, 1941 ,sgles',

Patented May 26, 1942 i ,UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE? SHEET ,SEPARATOR, 1 7 Stewart Sayles, Meriden, Kans. v 7 Application January 2,1941, SerialNo. 372,920 i w 1 Claim. (01. 296-57) My invention relates to means for separating or lifting sheet material from a pack or support.

Considerable difiiculty is experienced in removing or separating a single sheet of relatively thin material, for instance, paper, from a pack of the same due to the fact that the sheets are prone to adhere slightly to each other which condition often results, during ordinary removal of a sheet, in the wrinkling, tearing or defacing of the sheet or sheets. I

It is one of the principal objects of my invention to overcome the aforementioned difficulties and disadvantages and to make the task of removing a single sheet from its pack a simple one.

Another object of my invention is to provide means, disposed adjacent an outermost sheet of a pack, so constructed and arranged whereby the same will, when brought into coactive engagement with the outermost sheet, facilitate the separation of the sheet from the pack without defacing any of the sheets.

A further object of my invention is to provide means of the above described character so constructed and arranged whereby the same may be operated with minimum effort .on the part of the operator.

An important object of my invention is to pro-. vide a means of the character described which is simple in construction, durable in use, efficient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claim and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views: 7

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a book of cigarette papers having my invention applied there- Figure 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, and illustrating the book in closed position.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of one end of the book and illustrating a step in the operation of my invention.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the cover in raised position and with the outermostsheet or leaf of the book being in coupled relationship with the cover and separated from the other sheets.

In teaching my invention, I employ a conventional type of cigarette paper, book or pack 5, the latter comprising a pair of hinged covers or members 6 and 1 respectively and between which is interposed a pack of separable cigarette papers or sheets 8.

The member 6 is formed, adjacent. oneofits outermost corners, with an aperture or opening 9 through which is disposed a pneumatic or vacuum cup In, the latter being constructed of resilient material, for instance, rubber.

- The material is of a sufiicient resiliency to normally maintain the cup against collapsion and connected, by means of glue or thelike, to the wall defining the aperture 9.

The flange II, when the book is in closed condition, is disposed in proximity with theadjacent outermost sheet l2 of the pack 1. The opposite end of the cup 9 extends at an appreciable distance beyond the outer face of the member '8, as clearly illustrated in the drawing, whereby a finger of an operator may be readily applied thereto effecting collapsionof the cup to evacuate air therefrom for establishing a coupled relationship between the outermost sheet I2 and the adjacent member 6 as hereinafter more'fully described.

In operation, the finger of the operator is applied to the cup 9 and pressure exerted thereon to effect collapsion of the cup and coactive engagement of the flange H with the outermost sheet l2 as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. When pressure is thus applied, air from the cup will be exhausted therefrom. When pressure on the cup is released; that portion of the outermost sheet l2 disposed within the flange will be drawn slightly within the mouth and with the circumjacent portion of the outermost sheetforming a seal with the flange thereby establishing coupled relationship with the respective member 6.

Movement of said member 8, away from the adjacent sheets of the pack, serves to effect separation of the outermost sheet I2 with respect to able, for instance, sheets of carbon paper disposed in stacked relation within a container or combinations and sub-combinations;

c L holder having a liftable cover or enclosing member.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may,

by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the 5 opening adjacentone comer thereof, a suction samerfor use under various conditions of service.

1 Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purposeto which it is adapt-Q able. .It is therefore to be understood that the r What I claim is:

In a cigarette paper book, a pack of separable cigarette papers, a cover for said pack of papers including hingedly connected substantially rigid cover panels and one of said panels having an element of cup formation positioned in said opening and having the mouth thereof disposed next 7 to the pack of papers, said suction element pro- 10 truding a limited distance beyond an outer face of the last mentioned panel to be manually compressed for displacing air therefrom to bring about securing of a cigarette paper to said latternamed panel for movement therewith and away invention is not limited to the specific construc- '15 from the pack of papers, and a marginal flange tion as illustrated and described as the same is Tfofmed onth suction element about the mouth only illustrative of the principles of operation,

which are capable ofextended application in" various forms, and that the invention'comp're-" thereofto providea surface for the cigarette paper to contact and secured to an inner face of '1 the'latter-named panel to prevent displacement hends .all construction within the scope of the 20 of .the suction elementfrom the opening.

appended claim. a.

A y STEWART K. SAYLES. 

